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Friday, June 05, 2015

Beeswax Alchemy - a review

We have a small stack of books here that are due to be reviewed. It seems to me that in most cases Molly would be able to give a more meaningful point of view. After all, she's the exact audience I hope will find my own books! Well learned, unquenchable thirst for more knowledge, and still new enough to be thrilled - the perfect reviewer.

A Few Thoughts on “Beeswax Alchemy” by Petra Ahnert

First, the book is lovely and filled with delightful photos that made me want to make everything.

My previous knowledge of beeswax is somewhat limited. Since
I was little I was always encouraged to craft with beeswax and I remember
creating little animals and dolls. After reading Beewax Alchemy, I am more confident
about using beeswax in crafts more complex than tiny bowls and doggies. This is
a great introduction to beeswax and can be a solid foundation for anyone who
wants to begin crafting soap, candles, salves, and some surprise treasures that
could be fantastic for birthdays or Christmas. Here are a few of my favorites.

Fire Starters

This simple craft is perfect for a rainy day at home with
kids or preparing for a camping trip. By dipping pinecones in beeswax and
attaching wicks you can make beautiful, biodegradable fire starters that will
look great in and out of the campfire.

A helpful part about her directions for this project (as
well as others in the book) is that she gives advice in the note section.In this project she advises you wait to until
the cones are completely dry to avoid mishaps or injury. While to some it may
seem like common sense, I know I would have plucked the pinecone straight from
the tree this fall and dunked it in wax right away, causing an explosion that
would make Wiley Coyote wince.

Beeswax Ornaments

These beautiful decorations can be a fun way to spend a snow
day with your family or by yourself. These ornaments can make great gifts
anytime of the year. They smell lovely and last forever. Be sure to have a
sturdy candy mold for these and plenty of patience. While they will dry
relatively quickly they will need time and care when you take them out of the
mold.

This project is one of her beginner projects. I think it was
clever that she worked through and graded each project on difficulty but makes
it customizable for everyone. It helps you make a variety of crafts and build
confidence to try the next one.

Rosebud Salve

While I use different ingredients, this salve definitely
inspired me to create my split end wax. The hint of rose in the salve is
perfect and works well to keep your hair healthy and shiny. All the crafts she
demonstrates have practical use and often had me thinking, “Oh my gosh! That’s
so smart!”

This book definitely inspired me to learn more about beeswax
and find out what I can create with it. Beeswax Alchemy is a perfect
introductory book or can reawaken those who haven’t worked with beeswax in
years.

I have the book, and I like it, the one thing missing, I thought, was a well written tutorial on rendering beeswax straight from the hive. I have a webpage devoted to it, it would have been nice to have the same thing in this book (I share info, I'm not looking to make any money). Here is the link, you can delete it if not appropriate. http://pathwalker.blogspot.com/2014/11/rendering-beeswax.html